'adjudicata' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'adjudicatus,' where 'ad-' meant 'to' and 'judicare' meant 'to judge.'

'adjudicatus' transformed into the legal term 'adjudicata' in English, maintaining its original meaning related to judicial decisions.

Initially, it meant 'a judged matter,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern legal usage.